Scott Brown gains on Jeanne Shaheen in New Hampshire poll

A new poll could spell trouble for incumbent New Hampshire Democrat Sen. Jeanne Shaheen – and stoke worries about her party’s Senate majority.

Republican Scott Brown, who is a former senator from neighboring Massachusetts, trails Shaheen by just two points in the latest WMUR Granite State poll. That is within the poll’s margin of error. Last month, Brown was 12 points behind.

The gain by Brown is worth watching because Republicans need just six seats to take control of the Senate in November’s midterm elections. Recent forecasts have Republicans slightly favored to win the chamber, but control is by no means a done deal.

Brown, who lost his Senate seat to Democrat Elizabeth Warren in the 2012 election, told WMUR the poll was “certainly good news, but you know, we are going to continue to run like we are down.”

Shaheen’s campaign manager Mike Vlacich said in a statement about the poll that the senator has “been ready for a competitive race since Day One.” “This race will come down to who makes a difference for people in New Hampshire and Jeanne Shaheen’s record is clear,” he said.

Brown must first defeat two primary opponents, but is considered the frontrunner in the state’s GOP contest scheduled for Sept. 9. While Brown is neck and neck with Shaheen in the poll, other Republicans Bob Smith and Jim Rubens trail her.

A narrow Republican majority would continue gridlock in the Senate, analysts say, since 60 votes are usually required to move major legislation. Democrats now control the Senate with 55 votes to Republicans’ 45.